Al Horford has been one of many key gamers within the Celtics’ latest run of success since he signed with Boston as a free agent in 2016. The All-Star middle doesn’t put up gaudy numbers, averaging a stable 12.eight factors and seven.four rebounds per sport this season, however his expertise as a defender and screener on the offensive finish make him a key cog within the wheel.

Horford’s “pure place” has been up for debate for many of his profession, even though he’s made 5 All-Star groups in his 11 seasons, spending all of them primarily as a middle. For years, some followers and media have insisted he ought to play energy ahead due to his measurement at simply 6’10, and there have been even moments when Horford himself had these questions on his place.

His rebounding numbers are sometimes introduced up as a purpose why he’s not a “true middle,” having solely averaged greater than 10 rebounds per sport in only one season, even when the notion of a real middle has advanced dramatically since he entered the league. In any case, Horford seems to have some enjoyable with the critique that he’s allergic to rebounding as a result of he’ll randomly flinch wildly when a rebound caroms off the rim.

This very random incidence was a thriller for years, solely observed by a choose few followers and, final yr, The Starters as you see within the above video. So, when Horford did this in a sport this yr, it was the ultimate straw that made an intrepid reporter lastly ask Horford what he’s doing when that occurs.

Apparently, it’s only a joke he’s making together with his teammates to try to get them to chortle on the bench. Horford isn’t identified for being a jokester, however this can be a fairly humorous manner of him messing together with his teammates and, much less purposefully, followers watching who discover it. In all the clips of him flinching, you may see he solely does it when it’s a useless ball or it’s clear one other teammate goes to gather the ball, making it secure for him to do his joke with out it negatively affect the group.